A QUALITATIVE REVIEW OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY LEADERSHIP ROLES OF MANAGERS IN SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTRUCTION
Main Article Content
Keywords
Adoption, BIM, collaboration, diffusion of innovations, single information source
Abstract
Top management in an enterprise has decisive roles to play in terms of health and safety (H&S) management. A key role in this context pertains to leadership. The study that is reported upon assessed the H&S leadership styles and behaviours of managers in South African construction. The study, which follows the phenomenological approach, obtained information that highlights H&S practices in terms of leadership styles, behaviours and attitude of managers in the construction sector. The themes of the findings show that managers play critical leadership roles in managing workers’ H&S on site; managers’ leadership styles and behaviours have considerable influence on workers’ at-risk work practices, and managers have the capability to drive team performance by creating an enabling environment for zero tolerance for H&S failures on project sites. Thus, the leadership styles and behaviours of construction managers is undoubtedly an important factor in shaping workers’ H&S behaviours in the workplace. In promoting and sustaining optimum H&S in construction, managers should endeavour to appropriate management skills that embrace transformational leadership styles, commitment to H&S, and qualities that will help them to instil and maintain a positive H&S culture.
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References
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Coke, A. & Sridhar, C. (2010) Controlling Exposure to Biological Hazards, In: McAleenan, C. & Oloke, D. ed. ICE Manual of Health and Safety in Construction, London: Thomas Telford, 135-148.
Cox, S. & Jones, B. (2006) Behaviour Safety and Accident Prevention: Short-term ‘Fad’ or Sustainable Fix? Institution of Chemical Engineers: Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 84(B3), 164-170.
Cooper, M.D. (2009) Behavioural Safety Interventions: A Review of Process Design Factors, Professional Safety, 4(2), 36-45.
Cooper, M.D. (2010) Safety Leadership in Construction: A Case Study. Indian Journal of Occupational Medicine and Ergonomics: Suppl. A Psychology: 32(1), A15-17.
Flick, U. (2014) An introduction to qualitative research. 5th edition. London: Sage.
Flin, R. & Yule, S. (2003) Leading for Safety; Industrial Experience. Quality and Safety Health Care, 3(20, 45-51.
Flin, R., O’connor, P. & Crichton, M. (2008) Safety at the Sharp End: A Guide to Non-Technical Skills, Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing.
Fisk, E.R. & Reynolds, W.D. (2012) Construction Project Administration, 9th Edition, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Fourie, J. (2009) Construction Safety, Construction World, 40-41.
Gambatese, J.A., Behm, M. & Rajendran, S. (2008) Design’s Role in Construction Accident Causality and Prevention Perspectives from an Expert Panel. Safety Science, 46(2008), 675-691.
Gambatese, J.A, Toole, T.M. & Behm, M. (2008) Prevention through Design Practice: A Construction Industry Perspective. Professional Safety, 50(9), 32-44.
Geller, E.S. (2008) Behaviour-based and Occupational Risk Management: Professional Safety, 29(3), 539-561.
Gibb, A.G., Haslam, R., Hide, S., Gyi, D. & Duff, R. (2005) What Causes Accidents? Loughborough University, UK.
Goetsch, D.L. (2013) Construction safety and health. 2nd edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Hinze, J.W. (2006) Construction Safety. New Jersey: Prentice- Hall Inc.
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Hopkins, P. (2008) The Skills crisis in the Pipeline Sector of the Oil and Gas Business, Journal of Pipeline Engineering, 7(3), 147-172.
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Krause, T., Groover, D.R & Martin, D.K. (2010) Preventing Incidents and Fatalities: Eight Questions Every Senior Leader Should Ask. Professional Safety, 2(1), 46-53.
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Luria, G. (2011) The Social Aspects of Safety Management: Trust and Safety Climate, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 42(1), 1288-1295.
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Spanpenberg, S. (2009) An Injury Risk Model for Large Construction Project, Risk Management, an International Journal, 24(2), 111-189.
Sherratt, F. and Ferrell, P. (2012) Behavioural and Cultural Safety Programme: Evaluation from the UK site Perspective: Construction Management and Economics, 25(6), 371-383.
Smallwood, J.J. and Haupt, T. (2005) The need for construction health and safety (H&S) and the Construction Regulations: engineers' perceptions. Journal of the South African Civil Engineering Institution, 47(2) 2-8.
Teo, E.I.L, Haupt, T.C and Feng, Y. (2008) Construction Health and Safety Performance in Developing and developed Countries; A parallel Study in South Africa and Singapore. In: Hinze, J., Bohner, S, and Lew, J. eds. Proceedings of the CIB W99 14th International Conference on Evolution of Directions in Construction Health and Safety, Florida, 9-11 March 2008, CIB 485-499.
Vazquez, R.F., & Stalnaker, C.K. (2004) Latino Workers in the Construction Industry: Overcoming the Language Barrier Improves Safety, Professional Safety, 24(2), 121-134.
Wu, H. and Fang, D. (2012) Enhancing the Sustainability of BBS Implementation in Construction- Psychological and Organisational Perspectives: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. 36(6), 89-10.
Vredenburg, A.G. (2002) Organisational Safety: Which Management Practices are Most Effective in Reducing Employee Injury Rates, Journal of Safety Research, 33(2), 259-276.
Zohar, D. & Luria, G. (2004) The Use Supervisory Practices as Leverage to Improve Behaviour: A Cross Intervention Model. Journal of Safety Research, 34(5), 567-577.
Choudy, R.M. (2007) The Nature of Safety: A Survey of the State of Art, Safety Science, 34(3), 54-67.
Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) (2011) Construction Quality in South Africa: A Client Perspective. Pretoria: cidb.
Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) (2009) Construction Health and Safety in South Africa: Status and Recommendations. Pretoria: cidb.
Coke, A. & Sridhar, C. (2010) Controlling Exposure to Biological Hazards, In: McAleenan, C. & Oloke, D. ed. ICE Manual of Health and Safety in Construction, London: Thomas Telford, 135-148.
Cox, S. & Jones, B. (2006) Behaviour Safety and Accident Prevention: Short-term ‘Fad’ or Sustainable Fix? Institution of Chemical Engineers: Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 84(B3), 164-170.
Cooper, M.D. (2009) Behavioural Safety Interventions: A Review of Process Design Factors, Professional Safety, 4(2), 36-45.
Cooper, M.D. (2010) Safety Leadership in Construction: A Case Study. Indian Journal of Occupational Medicine and Ergonomics: Suppl. A Psychology: 32(1), A15-17.
Flick, U. (2014) An introduction to qualitative research. 5th edition. London: Sage.
Flin, R. & Yule, S. (2003) Leading for Safety; Industrial Experience. Quality and Safety Health Care, 3(20, 45-51.
Flin, R., O’connor, P. & Crichton, M. (2008) Safety at the Sharp End: A Guide to Non-Technical Skills, Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing.
Fisk, E.R. & Reynolds, W.D. (2012) Construction Project Administration, 9th Edition, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Fourie, J. (2009) Construction Safety, Construction World, 40-41.
Gambatese, J.A., Behm, M. & Rajendran, S. (2008) Design’s Role in Construction Accident Causality and Prevention Perspectives from an Expert Panel. Safety Science, 46(2008), 675-691.
Gambatese, J.A, Toole, T.M. & Behm, M. (2008) Prevention through Design Practice: A Construction Industry Perspective. Professional Safety, 50(9), 32-44.
Geller, E.S. (2008) Behaviour-based and Occupational Risk Management: Professional Safety, 29(3), 539-561.
Gibb, A.G., Haslam, R., Hide, S., Gyi, D. & Duff, R. (2005) What Causes Accidents? Loughborough University, UK.
Goetsch, D.L. (2013) Construction safety and health. 2nd edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Hinze, J.W. (2006) Construction Safety. New Jersey: Prentice- Hall Inc.
Hopkins, A. (2006) What are we to Make of Safe Behaviour Programme? Safety Science, 44(7), 583-589.
Hopkins, P. (2008) The Skills crisis in the Pipeline Sector of the Oil and Gas Business, Journal of Pipeline Engineering, 7(3), 147-172.
Hughes, P. & Ferrett, E.D. (2009) Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Howarth, T. & Watson, P. (2009) Construction Safety Management, Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
International Labour Organisation (2005) Safety and Health in Construction. Geneva: ILO.
International Labour Organisation (2007) Safety and Health in construction. Geneva: ILO.
Krause, T.R. (1997) The Behaviour-based Safety Process: Managing Involvement for an Injury-Free Culture. 2nd Edition, New York: John Willey & Sons.
Krause, T.R. (2003) A Behaviour-based Safety Approach to Accidents Investigation, Professional Safety, 45(12), 342-356.
Krause, T., Groover, D.R & Martin, D.K. (2010) Preventing Incidents and Fatalities: Eight Questions Every Senior Leader Should Ask. Professional Safety, 2(1), 46-53.
Luria, G. (2010) The Social Aspects of Safety Management: Trust and Safety Climate, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 42(1), 1288-1295.
McAleenan, P. (2010) Assessing Safety issues in Construction. In McAleenan, C. & Oloke, D. eds. ICE Manual of Health and Safety in Construction, London: Thomas Telford, 101-110.
Musonda, I., Pretorius, J. & Haupt, T.C. (2012) Assuring Health and Safety Performance on Construction Projects: Clients’ Role and Influence: Acta Structilia, 19(1), 71-105.
Musonda, I. & Smallwood, J. (2009) Client Commitment and Attitude to Construction Health and Safety in Botswana, In: Proceedings of People in Construction, TG59 (Port Elizabeth (12-14 July), South Africa, 231-247.
Northouse, P.G. (2011) Leadership: Theory and Practice 5th ed. London: Sage
Lees, H. & Austin, J. (2011) The Case for Behaviour-based Safety in Construction, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 164(1), 3-7.
Lingard, H. & Rowlinson, S. (2005) Occupational Health and Safety in Construction, Project Management: New York: Spon Press.
Lingard, H., Blismas, N. & Wakefield, R. (2005) The effect of supervisory roles on sites health and safety performance. In: Proceedings of QUT Research (4-5 July), Brisbane, Australia.
Little, P.L. (2006) The High cost of Under-skilled labour: Industrial Maintenance and Plant, 67(4), 10-25.
Lutchman, C. Maharaj, R. & Ghanem, W. (2012) Safety Management: A comprehensive approach to developing a sustainable system. 1st Edition, Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Luria, G. (2011) The Social Aspects of Safety Management: Trust and Safety Climate, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 42(1), 1288-1295.
Mangham, I. (2006) Leadership and Integrity: In Storey, J. (ed.) Leadership in Organisations: Current Issues and Key Trends: London: Routledge, 41-57.
Markiewicz, D. (2009) OSHA Compliance Alone Doesn’t Cut It: An Integrated Safety and Health Management System are Needed, Industrial Safety and Hygiene News, 43(7), 20-32.
Okorie, V.N. & Smallwood, J.J. (2010) Impact of Health and Safety Culture on Construction Site Performance in South Africa, In Proceedings of ASOCSA 5th Built Environment Conference (pp. 380.391). Durban.
Sunnindijo, Y.R. and Zou, P.X.W. (2012) The Influence of Project Personnel’s Emotional Intelligence, Interpersonal Skill, and Transformational Leadership on Construction Safety Climate Development: International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 5(1), 1-13.
Spanpenberg, S. (2009) An Injury Risk Model for Large Construction Project, Risk Management, an International Journal, 24(2), 111-189.
Sherratt, F. and Ferrell, P. (2012) Behavioural and Cultural Safety Programme: Evaluation from the UK site Perspective: Construction Management and Economics, 25(6), 371-383.
Smallwood, J.J. and Haupt, T. (2005) The need for construction health and safety (H&S) and the Construction Regulations: engineers' perceptions. Journal of the South African Civil Engineering Institution, 47(2) 2-8.
Teo, E.I.L, Haupt, T.C and Feng, Y. (2008) Construction Health and Safety Performance in Developing and developed Countries; A parallel Study in South Africa and Singapore. In: Hinze, J., Bohner, S, and Lew, J. eds. Proceedings of the CIB W99 14th International Conference on Evolution of Directions in Construction Health and Safety, Florida, 9-11 March 2008, CIB 485-499.
Vazquez, R.F., & Stalnaker, C.K. (2004) Latino Workers in the Construction Industry: Overcoming the Language Barrier Improves Safety, Professional Safety, 24(2), 121-134.
Wu, H. and Fang, D. (2012) Enhancing the Sustainability of BBS Implementation in Construction- Psychological and Organisational Perspectives: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. 36(6), 89-10.
Vredenburg, A.G. (2002) Organisational Safety: Which Management Practices are Most Effective in Reducing Employee Injury Rates, Journal of Safety Research, 33(2), 259-276.
Zohar, D. & Luria, G. (2004) The Use Supervisory Practices as Leverage to Improve Behaviour: A Cross Intervention Model. Journal of Safety Research, 34(5), 567-577.